Connection 2: Medium-Sized Groups (Part 2 of 7)

Successful medium-sized groups are easy to spot. They are usually organized into basic categories of people (men, women, college, high school, kids, etc.) These groups involve in-depth teaching combined with fellowship. There will often be opportunities for interaction between people who attend the meetings actually during the meeting. In addition, the relaxed atmosphere is likely to provide interaction outside of a small geographic area around the attendee's chair or table. This happens as people sit in different locations each time and promotes multiple contacts (and thus, connections) within the group. Successful connections are made in the medium-sized group through the people who attend as well as the people who organize the events. This connection is reinforced by continual attendance and through the "mixing up" of seating at the location. The advantage of this type of connection is that feedback can be readily received and results can be quantified. Temporary Groups Some medium-sized groups are temporary. Large churches may form medium-sized groups to help connect a group of people and to help them form connections and bonds. Other successful medium-sized groups could be a "spiritual gifts" course or a "membership" course, or perhaps a mission trip where people will be temporarily held together because of certain given conditions. Permanent Groups Other medium-sized groups are permanent. youth, junior high, high school, college, singles, seniors, moms, and dads name just a few. These groups will have fluid members, but the groups themselves are permanent and reliable (such as Men's Ministry meets Wednesday morning, High School meets Wednesday night, and so forth).